With the fiscal-cliff crisis temporarily averted and Congress incapable of doing anything more than kicking the can down the road, we need a creative way of solving the ongoing dilemma. There is a simple solution: Send irresolvable problems directly to the American people. Here’s how: Republicans and Democrats each propose a plan outlining tax and spending proposals, and have the people vote directly on which plan they prefer.
If the logistics of a national election are too formidable, a random sample could be taken, large enough to ensure that the margin of error is small.
Just as presidential candidates tend to move toward the center to appeal to as many people as possible, it is likely that the parties would moderate their positions on a budget proposal. Thus, we would end the endless bickering, adopt a plan and move on.
SANFORD H. LEFKOWITZ